Steam-engine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1'.-.

M. Mt ILLER. STEAM ENGINE.

, 3 Patented Apr. 16 1889..

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. MULLER.

STEAM ENGINE. No. 401,364. Patented Apr. 16, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

MAT'rHAUs nULLER, OF TRENTON, ILLINOIS.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,364, dated April 16, 1889.

Application filed September 19, 1888. Serial No. 285,802. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, MATTHAUS MI'iLLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Clinton and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in steanrengines; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a steam-engine embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is averticallongitudinal central sectional view 10f the cylinder and the steam supply and exhaust chambers. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 'v a: a: of Fig. 3.

A represents a bed-plate or casting, which has a horizontal base, B, whereby it is supported. From opposite ends of the said baseplate or casting project arms (3, which are of the same size and shape, and are each provided on one side with longitudinal ways D.

E represents a pair of standards or knees at the outer ends of the arms 0, and F represents a pair of shafts, which are journaled in bearings in the upper ends of said knees or standards. Each of the said shafts has a crank-wheel, G, secured to its inner end, and one of said shafts is provided with a pair of eccentric wheels, H, which are arranged at suitable angles with relation to each other.

I represents a steam cylinder, which is bolted or otherwise secured in a horizontal position on one side of the bed-plate A. On the upper side of the steam-cylinder is a cylindrical steam-chest, K, and on the lower side of the said steam-cylinder is a cylindrical exhaust steam-chamber, L.

M represents a steam-supply pipe, which communicates with one end of the steam-chest K, and N represents an exhaust-pipe, which communicates with one end oi the exhaust chest or chamber L. A channel or steamport, 0, communicates with the center of steam-chest K and with the center of the cylinder I on one side of the latter.

P represents a steam channel or port, which communicates with the ends of the cylinderI and with the steam-chest K at a slight distance from the channel or port 0. A central exhaust channel or port, .R, connects the centers of the cylinder I and exhaust chest or chamber L, and exhaust channels or ports S connect the ends of the cylinder I with the exhaust chamber or chest L, and communicate with the latter at equal distances from oppcs'lte sides of the port R.

U represents a pair of pistons, which are arranged in the cylinder 1 and are adapted. to move simultaneously in opposite directions between the ends and the center of the cylinder. From the outer side of each piston extends a piston-rod, T, which passes through one end of the cylinder and through a stuffing-box, V, therein- The outer ends of the piston-rods are secured to cross-heads WV, which are guided in the ways D, and thesaid cross-heads are connected to diametricallyopposite sides of the respective crank-wheels G by means of pitmen X.

Y represents a cylindrical valve, which is fitted in the cylindrical steam-chest K, is provided with packing-rings Z,whereby a steamtight joint is efifected with the said steam-- chest, and has a longitudinal bore, A, the ends of which are open, so that an unobstructed passage-Way is provided at all times between the ends of the steam-chest. In the lower side of the valve Y is a port, B, which is adapted to register alternately with the ports 0 P.

0' represents an exhaust valvem'hich is cylindrical in form and fits snugly in the exhaust chest or chamber L. Said exhaustvalve is provided with a longitudinal bore or opening, D, which extends entirely through the same, and thereby establishes communication at all times between the ends of the exhaust chest or chamber. The said valve is further provided with a port, E, which is adapted to alternately register with and close the port R, and has ports F, which are adapted to alternately register with and move past the ports S.

G represents a rocking lever, which is pivoted at its center to one side of one of the arms 0. The upper end of the said rocking lever is connected to the valve Y by a valverod, H, and the lower end of said rocking 1ever is connected to the exhaust-valve O by a .that when they rotate the link will be caused to oscillate on the-stud or pin K.

0 represents a lever, which is pivoted on one side of the bed-plate and has one end connected to the link-L by means of a rod, P.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The rocking lever G, which is operated by the eccentric, causes the cut-off and the exhaust valves to reciprocate simultaneously in opposite directions, and the crank-wheels are so adjusted on the shafts that the port B in valve A will be coincident with the port or channel P at the same time that the port E in valve 0 is coincident with the ports or channel R, and thereby steam will be admitted to the ends of the cylinder and caused to force the pistons toward each other, and the dead steam in the cylinder between the said pistons will be exhausted through the ports R E and valve 0 into the exhaust-chamber L, and from the latter to the exhaust-pipe N. As the pistons near the inner limit of their strokes, the valve A will move so as to cause its port B to register with the channels or ports 0, and thereby admit live steam to the central portion of the cylinder between the pistons, and at the same instant the valve 0 will move, so as to cause its ports F to register with the ports or channels S, and thereby exhaust steam from the ends of the cylinder, as will be readily understood. By reason of the valves being provided with the longitudinal bores and fitting snugly in their respective chambers or chests, the steam is prevented from exerting any pressure Whatever on the peripheries of the valves, and is caused to pass freely through the same and exert an equal degree of pressure on opposite ends of the valves, and thereby so effectually balance them that the friction between the valves and their chests or chambers will be reduced to the minimum.

A steam-engine thus constructed is extremely compact, is very powerful, and can be built much lighter than the steam-engines now in common use, inasmuch as the steam pressure is exerted either at both ends simultaneouslyor at the center of the cylinder, and

hence neither end of the cylinder is ever caused to bear singly all of the strain.

By operating the lever O the link L may be shifted on the pin or stud K, so as to regulate the stroke of theinlet and exhaust valves or reverse the same, so as to reverse the operation of the engine.

Inasmuch as the said eccen- Having thus described the invention, I claim- 1. The combination, in a steam-engine, of the cylinder having the exhaust and inlet ports on opposite sides communicating with its center and with its end, the steam-chest on one side of the cylinder, the exhaust-steam chamber on the opposite side thereof, the cutoff valve in the steam-chest, adapted to alternately register with the end and center steamports, the exhaust-valve in the exhaust-chamber, adapted to alternately register with the end and center exhaust-ports, and the lever Y, having its ends connected to the said valves, and means, substantially as specified, to operate the said lever, whereby the valves will be moved simultaneously in opposite directions, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in an engine, of the cylinder having the end and center steam and exhaust ports on opposite sides, the

steam-chest on one side of the cylinder, the exhaust-steam chamber on the opposite side thereof, the cut-off and exhaust valves, the lever Y, having its ends connected to the said valves in the steam and exhaust chambers,

respectively, and provided with the pin or stud K, the slotted link fulcrumed on said pin or stud, and the eccentric-rods connected to opposite ends of the said link, substantially as, described. 1

3. In a steam-engine, the cylinder having .the steam and exhaust ports or channels, each communicating with its center and ends, the steam and exhaust chambers, the cut-off and exhaust valves therein, respectively, the pistons in the cylinder having the piston-rods extending through opposite ends thereof, the independent crank-shafts, the pitmen connecting the latter to the pistons, and connections, substantially as described, between the crank-shafts and the cut-off and exhaust the port B, adapted to register alternately with the ports 0 P, the exhaust-chamber, and

the exhaust-valve therein, having the ports E F, adapted to register alternately with the ports R and S, respectively, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MATTHAUS MULLER.

Witnesses:

WILHELM KRUSE, J OSEPH GLATTHAAR. 

